Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  LOVE My Prius! - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Gigi - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Been a Honda driver since the 80s and decided I wanted something different. The lease rate was so great on the Prius that I just couldnt pass on it. Its so quiet that you cant hear it running, it looks so high tech and the gas mileage is fantastic. Im averaging 50 MPG and you just cant beat that! Keyless entry is also a great feature. I hate digging for my keys. Now I just leave them in my purse. I have plenty of room for my 62" husband and my two dogs. Love the hatch back styling. I use it like a wagon, always hauling stuff. Im spoiled! I can never go back to a non-hybrid car.

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  This is the best car Ive ever owned - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By spaam2021 - April 14 - 1:57 am

  The gas savings is obvious -- Im getting 50MPG with 90% highway driving. If I drive in the city only, I can get 60+MPG. My fuel costs went from $200+ per month to under $100 with barely any effort. The car has also been highly reliable. After all this time Ive owned it, it didnt need anything beyond basic maintenance. Sometimes it doesnt even need anything beyond an oil change. I also LOVE the interior in this thing. The Start ignition button, joystick shifter, LCD dashboard, multifunction display....it all looks very futuristic to me. I wish the car has a temperature gauge on the LCD dashboard and that it is more comfortable to ride, but otherwise, its an extremely great car!

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  Like the circus clowns in the car - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By keepsdad - April 13 - 3:46 pm

  How does Toyota do it? SOO much truck for so little money. 4 door cab is extremely roomy and comfy. V6 mated to the 5 speed auto is more than ample power - truck will scoot. Ride is unblievable for a truck. My wife (who is not a truck person) compares the ride to a car. Shes right. Very stable handling. mine came with the limited slip diff. and on a recent long distance, high speed trip in TORRENTIAL rain it was stable as a rock. No wheel spin, no traction loss at all. Stereo is killer - sounds better than the one is my expensive sports car. Back bed liner is tough - BUT slippery for my dogs. easily fixed with rubber bed mat. Fit and finish is typical Toyota - tops. Paint is lustrous.

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  A Great Choice - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By John - April 13 - 10:26 am

  We needed a vehicle with a large enough rear seat for a child seat and an infant seat and easy to get the kids in and out of. This RAV-4 is the perfect choice. This vehicle seems small on the outside, but it has unbelievable space inside. The cargo area (without 3rd row seats) is huge and the 2 storage bins under the floor are a bonus. Rear seats truly fold flat unlike many others. This one is a V6 Limited with all options except navigation. This thing is very fast and the fuel economy is pretty amazing. We get 24-25mpg on local driving and weve seen 32 mpg on the road. A very versatile vehicle for an active family.

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  Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By myprius - April 12 - 2:00 am

  This car is extremely fun to drive and very quiet. Perfect for listening to music in or just relaxing. Exterior noise from other cars is cancelled out nicely and you can enjoy a smooth quiet ride. If you practice at it, you can learn to drive a certain way to increase fuel economy and get better than the posted avg of 60 mpg. However, in the winter months my fuel economy has dropped and Im not sure why but assume it is due to the temperature drop. The car works well in all conditions, but you do have to be careful on wet and icy roads because of the small wheel base.

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  Hybrid Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Tim T - April 11 - 8:30 pm

  This is a blast to drive. The body style is outstanding, we added the Toyota rear spoiler, and get lots of positive comments from people. Right now we are getting combined City/Hwy 41 miles per gallon. The car drives smooth- has plenty of power. I was crusing on the Hwy yesterday at 70 mph and geting 42.5 miles per gallon. The ride and handling are outstanding. Everytime we stop someone walks up and wants to know how we like it, when we tell them we are getting 40 plus it knocks their socks off. This car makes driving fun again and economical.

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  WOW Awesome SUV - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By PAT - April 11 - 12:56 am

  This is an awesome SUV. I wanted an RX330 but glad I chose the Highlander for its looks, reliability and performance. Feel like a dream when I drive this SUV. It is spaceous, comfortable and floats on air. Love it!!

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  Not as good as its predecessor - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By gurunumber2 - April 10 - 10:06 pm

  I used to have a 1991 Toyota MR2 until January of this past year when it was taken from me in a rear end collision aka hit me going 70 while I was stopped. I purchased this vehicle thinking it felt so much like the last model. I was wrong. I am thinking about selling it now even though it has only been 11 months. It is so small, much smaller than the previous model. It also doesnt handle as well. Granted it is a good ride, but not as good as the 1991-1995 model year. I have spun out a couple times... once I ended up on the sidewalk... fishtails way too bad. Last car didnt have this problem. This car is too lite and not practical for a daily driver. Fun in good weather with the top down.

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  Almost Perfect Sedan: Long Range Machine! - 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By sonomabear - April 10 - 7:52 pm

  Other than 2 interior minor problems due to cheap materials, this car has been perfect! I average 39+ MPG without babying it. I leave it in "Eco" mode unless in the mountains -- then I put it into "Sport" mode and have a great time shortening the winding roads! "Normal" & "EV" modes are worthless. Why I left Mercedes E Class: The limited Avalon has more safety features tan Mercedes even offers yet is over $20K less out the door. Front facing RADAR makes driving extremely comfortable. I arrive relaxed after a few hours of California Interstate Insanity... set the RADAR cruise to 75 MPH and have satellite music playing softly. Six thousand mile trip was flawless.

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  Dont Buy a Prius - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By pam2bad - April 10 - 3:20 pm

  When I first got my Prius I loved it. Now, a year and half later, Im hating it. For the past 2 months I have had trouble with the headlights going out on me and I have had it not start for me several times. The dealership I took it to in Maryland said it would cost me $400 to replace one headlight. When I told them about the car not starting they said it must be my battery. Then when they looked at it they said the battery was fine. I went to start up the car two days later it wouldnt start. I didnt leave any lights on or anything that would drain the battery and who knows how much a new battery for this car will cost. When you buy a car it should at least hold up longer than 1 1/2 yrs